Fix for Windows Live Photo Gallery Blank Import Options Tab
Windows Live Photo Gallery is currently my preferred photo management software and I am loving the plugins and new sync features. I always use WLPG when importing pictures from my digital camera (Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5A
Well all of a sudden a couple of weeks ago when I went to import some photos I tried clicking on the more options link, however it didn’t do anything. So I tried to get to the settings via the File menu, but was greeted with the following:
After searching around on google I found that others had run into this problem, but nobody had a fix. First thing I tried was uninstalling and reinstalling WLPG, but that didn’t work so I decided to email Microsoft support. After running through numerous “fixes” and multiple emails back and forth, including sending them a ton of log files, I found myself no closer to solving the problem than I was before. So, I decided to poke around the registry and found the solution to my problem:
- Make sure Windows Live Photo Gallery is closed
- Open up regedit (On vista just type regedit from the start menu, otherwise goto Start->Run)
- Delete the following key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows Live\Photo Acquisition
- Reopen Windows Live Photo Gallery and your options tab should be fixed
- If not, search for and delete any keys under *\Software\Microsoft\Windows Live that pertain to Windows Live Photo Gallery (where * is any of the main root keys)
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Posted Under: Fixes/Workarounds
Tags: blank import options tab, blank options tab, fix, import options, Microsoft, microsoft photo, microsoft support, microsoft windows, more options link, more options link does nothing, options tab, panasonic lumix, photo gallery, photo management software, regedit, registry, software, software microsoft, type regedit, Vista, windows live photo gallery, wlpg
Hi, I’m Eric Richards over on the Photo Gallery team. Thanks for using WLPG! I looked up your issue and we fixed something very similar to this.
Can I double check with you the version you see in WLPG when you do (Help?) -> About Photo Gallery?
Thanks!
Build 14.0.8064.206 Let me know if you need anymore information.
Hmm… that’s the latest version. I’d like to know the content of your keys that you need to delete, should this happen again. Cheers,
== Eric
I might have a backup of my registry. I’ll check and if I find it I’ll post a reply comment.
Thank you! I have been trying to fix this problem for MONTHS!!!
I had been using picasa as a workaround, but it does not rename the photos the way the MS import does.
I had to go to a different location than you listed though. It was:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Photo Acquisition
Thanks again!
Jim
I too am having this problem however I do not have HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows Live\Photo listed in my registry.
Under windows live in that location I have common, communications clients, and platform and the last 2 have +’s next to them.
Under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Photo Acquisition
I have Camera, Destinationmru, opticalmedia, and scanner.
So what am I missing? Which key do I need to delete cuz I’m not finding any specific keys but more key directories under those two options. Could some please help? I’m running Windows Vista Home Premium if that’s of any help.
Thanks
See Jim S’s message above yours. Looks like your path matches his. Right click the Photo Acquisition and choose export, save it someplace, and then delete that entire folder. Reopen Windows Live Photo Gallery and see if that fixes your problem.
…and please please please if you can then go through in detail everything stored under Photo Acquisition and describe what they are (e.g., was there a bad path, renamed drive, external hard-drive) it would help us reproduce this issue and fix it. Thanks.
Yep hopefully Jennifer will be able to provide you with the file she exported if it works, since I couldn’t find my backup.
Hey there,
So deleting the whole folder under that registry key seemed to work. I can see the tab again. I wasn’t sure if I needed to delete the whole folder or just one key somewhere in that folder and it’s sub folders so that’s that’s where my confusion was.
Not really sure what to look for to see if the key was corrupt or what went wrong but if it helps I can post the original exported folder from my registry online for you guys to have a look at as you probably have a better idea of what to look for than I do. If this will be of help please let me know and I’ll link the download here. Or Someone could just give me an email to forward the info to or something. Please let me know.
Thanks!
Hi Jennifer -
Sure. Either you can throw it up on a SkyDrive folder or you can email it to me at my Live ID account ejrejr@hotmail.com .
This should be very helpful. Thank you.
Eric,
Did you end up getting the information you needed?
Yes – Jennifer came through with flying colors sending us that part of the registry and the information is attached to our bug. Thanks!